Cartoonist Seth Wins $10,000 Harbourfront Festival Prize

Award-winning author and cartoonist Seth has been selected as the 2011 winner of the $10,000 Harbourfront Festival Prize. Seth is perhaps best known for his comic Palooka-ville, as well as his work in the New Yorker and a multitude of projects designing book jackets and album art. He has previously won an Eisner Award and a Harvey Award.

The International Festival of Authors (IFOA) established this prize in 1984. This year's winner was selected by a jury that included John van Driel (VP Programming & Operations, Classical 96.3 FM), Denise Donlon (Television Host and Producer) and Geoffrey E. Taylor (Director, IFOA).

According to the IFOA press release, Seth had this to say about his win:

"I was bowled over when I heard I was to be awarded the 2011 Harbourfront Festival Prize. I recall, back in the early 90s talking to fellow cartoonist Chester Brown about the future of our medium and our hopes of its literary acceptance. We weren't optimistic. Frankly, the idea of winning something like this was not within the realm of possibilities at that time so it goes without saying, that I am deeply honoured."

The Canadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC) has announced the finalists for the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award, Prix TD de littérature canadienne pour l’enfance et la jeunesse, Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award, Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children's Non-Fiction and Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People.